Challenged Books

The Handmaid's Tale By: Margaret Atwood

Challenged for:“profane language,” anti-Christian overtones, “violence” and “sexual degradation”.

In the Heat of the Night by: John Ball

Challenged for language and racial stereotyping.

Taught at WCSS.

Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak

By: Deborah Ellis

Challenged because some children in the book portrayed Israeli soldiers as brutal, expressed ethnic hatred and glorified suicide bombing. Said to be “toxic.”

Challenged in Niagara.

To Kill a MockingbirdBy: Harper Lee

Challenged due to racial stereotyping.

Taught at WCSS

The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber

SpyglassBy: Philip Pullman

Challenged because: the stories, which are set in an alternative universe populated with talking animals, undermine organized religion and promote atheism.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the

Prisoner of AzkabanBy: J.K. Rowling

Challenged because of concern that Harry Potter is engaged in wizardry, witchcraft, and magic-making, and that it promotes satanism.

Greasy, Grimy, Gopher Guts: The Subversive Folklore of ChildrenBy: Josepha Sherman and T.K.F.

Weisskopf.

Challenged due to "inappropriate content for children"

Of Mice and MenBy: John Steinbeck

Challenged due to profane and blasphemous language that is offensive to Christians and a belief that it cannot possibly hold any educational benefit.

Taught at WCSS

Different SeasonsBy: Stephen King

Challenged due to language and content.

The GiverBy: Lois Lowry

Challenged due to age appropriateness.

Taught in DSBN.

FoxfireBy: Joyce Oates

The book, which deals with the subject of teenaged gangs, was challenged due to obscene and profane language and content.

Goosebumps and Fear Street book series

By: R.L. Stine

Challenged because the books were said to convey violence and a lack of respect for parental authority.

These books can be found in the classroom and elementary schools across DSBN.

On the Banks of Plum CreekBy: Laura Ingalls Wilder

Challenged due to offensive content - racism.

Huckleberry FinnBy: Mark Twain

One of the most challenged books of all time. It’s also held a spot on the list of the American Library Association’s ‘Most Frequently Challenged Books.’ The reason for all this is because of the racial language used in the book.

Taught at WCSS

Lord of the FliesBy: William Golding

Challenged due to racial slurs.

Taught at WCSS

Flowers for AlgernonBy: Daniel Keyes

Challenged for being "filthy and immoral”

Taught in DSBN

The DivinersBy: Margaret Laurence

Challenged for inappropriate language and content.

Catcher in the RyeBy: J.D. Salinger

One of the most controversial novels. Challenged due to anti-Christian sentiments and strong themes such as confusion, angst, alienation, and rebellion. The novel is also supposedly linked to many murders and murder attempts making it a negative yet influential symbol.

Taught at WCSS

Challenged due to content, the novel is influenced heavily by the author’s political views and deals with themes such as torture, mind control, invasion of privacy, organized religion, and censorship. The novel is also said to have created the notion of “Big Brother”, in that we are always being watched.

Taught at WCSS

Nineteen Eighty-FourBy: George Orwell

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Challenged due to religious slurs towards the Christian faith and inaccurate portrayal of facts.

Banned in Lebanon.

The Da Vinci CodeBy: Dan Brown

Probably one of the most controversial books ever written. Challenged as being highly blasphemous. The controversy resulted in Rushdie living in hiding for a decade over fear of his life.

Banned in the following countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iran, Kenya, Kuwait, Liberia, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Senegal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Thailand

Satanic VersesBy: Salman Rushdie

Challenged due to content: animals acting on the same level as human beings.

Banned in the province of Hunan, China

Alice`s Adventures in WonderlandBy: Lewis Carroll